UK and Europe

Claire Warden

Claire Warden

Senior Consultant, Director and Founder of Mindstretchers Ltd

Claire Warden has developed her approach to experiential learning through a variety of experiences which have taken her on a pathway that includes working in a variety of types of centre, advisory work and ultimately to lecturing in further education at Strathclyde University.

Claire is an author of many books and materials relating to early years methodology. She set up Whistlebrae and Auchlone Nature Kindergartens in Scotland where children from 2-6 yrs old as well as after school care and holiday care for children up to 12 years spend up to 90% time outside.

Claire is one of a leadership group of consultants who make up the World Nature Collaborative to develop a cohesive network and approach to experiential learning in outdoor spaces in a variety of climates bringing together educators, landscape architects, environmentalists and health workers to support a multidisciplinary approach to outdoor educational provision.

Kate Hookham

Kate Hookham is Mindstretchers Senior Trainer and the Co-ordinator of Living Classrooms. Kate has worked for Mindstretchers for over 10 years.

She has developed and delivered training/CPD courses, contributes to Claire Warden publications and delivers longer term bespoke coaching in context projects throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. At Living Classrooms Kate built community capacity through informal education programmes for refugees, ethnic minorities, the elderly and youth. She now coordinates the International Association of Nature Pedagogy and our Erasmus projects. In addition, Kate supports Auchlone Nature Kindergarten staff and children through hands-on mentoring. Kate is a qualified teacher, who has taught in Stirlingshire, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk across the ages and stages. She has a passion for using active learning and the outdoors to support curriculum delivery.

Jo Gordon

Senior Consultant, Early Years Specialist and Inservice Trainer based in England.

Jo Gordon joined Mindstretchers as a senior Early Years Consultant and is based in England where she delivers project work, training and consultancy. She is now an associate trainer for us, delivering project work, training and consultancy.

Jo works as an Early Years Consultant for several London authorities where she supports and advises childminders, pre-schools and schools on best practice. She delivers training on all aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage and has a particular passion for the outdoors. She co-leads Lambeth’s Natural Thinkers project – Connecting Children to NatureShe works part-time for Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP) working on developing and implementing strategies to enhance and develop communication and language for children 0-4 years

Ann Flint

Associated Trainer - North Yorkshire

Ann has 15 years experience as an early years teacher in a small rural school, and 10 years experience working in an consultancy position with North Stockton EAZ, Sure Start Stockton and Stockton Council Local Authority.

During her 10 years as a consultant she has had a wide variety of responsibilities to promote and support the development of excellent early years practice for schools and settings in the Stockton-on-Tees borough for children aged form birth to five years. She has a particular interest in promoting quality outdoor learning experiences and an appreciation for the natural world.

Jenny McAllister

Consultant and In-Service Trainer

Jenny is passionate about nature and children and studied a degree in Ecology and a PGDE in primary to gain the skills and knowledge to bring the two together. Jenny has worked as a primary school teacher, an outdoor learning teacher and has set up and managed an outdoor nursery. During this time she has continued to work on her professional development training in beach schools, becoming a John Muir Award leader and receiving Professional Recognition in outdoor learning from the GTCS. Volunteering for the Scottish Wildlife Trust she organised three award winning children's Wildlife Watch clubs. Education Scotland recognised the importance of outdoor learning and awarded Jenny the title of Scottish Teacher of the Year in 2013, the first non-classroom based teacher to win this award. In 2015 this was followed by an MBE for services to Education on the Queens New Year's Honours List. Jenny is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences with others and encouraging people to engage children with the natural environment.

Kay Rooks

Licensed Trainer - North East England

Kay Rooks has worked in early years education since 1983, when she qualified as a teacher. Having developed a real interest in the language development of young children she completed a diploma in Child Language and Language Disability with Newcastle University in 1996 and completed an M. Ed in Children’s Literature in 2004. Kay works on a part time basis for Focus on Learning with the remainder of her working week spent with Sunderland Local Authority. Kay’s role as a school improvement professional leads her to work with practitioners of children aged between birth and five years.

Chris Barnes

Associate Trainer - South West England

Chris has over 20 years’ experience in Early Years and KS1 as teacher, early years coordinator and Advanced Skills Teacher and LA Adviser for Early Years. She has led many curriculum development initiatives and has published regularly in books and professional journals.

A highly experienced early years trainer, Chris currently works for Cornwall Learning, devising and leading training and support for teachers and other practitioners working in schools and private and voluntary settings.

Chris believes passionately that high quality early years education must involve real-life, hands-on experiences which really motivate children to learn, making the best use of natural resources even where access to the outdoors is difficult.

Within her Local authority, Chris’ other main responsibility is the management of the EYFS profile, which has led to her strong interest in involving children in both assessment and planning their learning, through Talking and Thinking Floorbooks. She is very excited to be working within the Mindstretchers team.

Darren Lewis

Licensed Trainer - Wales

Darren is an experienced teaching and learning practitioner and passionate advocate for learning in the outdoors. As a Schools Advisor, Darren has experience in managing projects aimed at raising school achievement and increasing parental engagement.

In 2011 Darren attended the First International Swedish Outdoor Learning Pedagogic training course in Stockholm (2011) where he became the first Welsh practitioner to achieve the standards necessary to use the Swedish Outdoor Learning pedagogy.

With first-hand experience of utilising learning pedagogies from Scandinavia and Japan (Forest School & Skogsmulle), Darren has an understanding of international best practice in Education.

Judith Bower

Associate Trainer - South West England

Judith was an Early Years Teacher and Deputy Headteacher for 17 years. During her teaching career, she was committed to play based and outdoor learning and subsequently left teaching to become an EYFS Consultant with Cornwall LA where she provided support and training for both the maintained and non maintained sector, leading teams of Children Centre teachers and other Early Years professionals. She now works as an independent consultant, working with ‘Cornwall Learning’, continuing her role as a moderator for the EYFS Profile and is pleased to have joined the Mindstretchers team in August 2013. Judith is married with two grown-up children and lives in North Cornwall, where she enjoys walking, sewing, and baking.

Janette Robertson

Area Sales Manager Scotland for training and resources

I started working in the Education Sector 17 years ago having achieved much as an experienced Area Manager in the commercial world, which did involve partnership selling and an element of staff training. I began my Educational Career firstly in the Primary and Secondary sector and then moving to the primary pre-school sector 13 years ago. Then 10 years ago I joined Mindstretchers to build and grow their business mainly at that time in the pre-school sector. Over these 17 years I have had the privilege of being with many educational consultants which has enabled me to grow my knowledge and has contributed in helping me built up many contacts.

I visit many establishments and am happy to come and find you and help to advise on the correct resources and training to meet your needs. In addition to this I attend Exhibitions, Conferences and I can help with outdoor developments and give advice on the appropriate In-service. On my own time I love to spend time in my own garden and go walking. I often return to my first love of travelling. I have been very fortunate in life and I have had three jobs I have loved.

Jaclyn Philip

Associate Trainer, Aberdeen

I have been raised in an early year’s environment my whole life as my mother owns a group of nurseries in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. I have been heavily involved at a management level for 6+ years. I love working with the staff to create amazing learning environments that enable children to take control of their own learning. I believe in children of all ages working together as a community to develop, create and grow. I feel children should have a choice to be inside or out and their learning should be delivered in the environment they choose so, for this reason, my nursery has adopted indoor/outdoor free flow. My settings are fully vested in Floorbooks and use them in our everyday practice with our children. I do have a BA HONS in Visual Communication and believe this helps me come up with creative and innovative ways to support to development our children.

Kate Rastall

Associate Trainer, Wales

Kate has spent 19 years working in the education sector, as a Key Stage 1, Early Years and Foundation Phase teacher, and as a training and support officer, supporting schools and teachers in Pembrokeshire with their delivery of the Foundation Phase. She is committed to experiential learning that incorporates the outdoors and children’s creativity as essential elements in developing children’s wellbeing and skills as learners. She has also worked as a playgroup leader, an artist in residence in a comprehensive school, is a Forest School leader, and has been involved in linking with schools in Africa and developing ESDGC resources. In addition to her work as a teacher and trainer, she volunteers with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, writes, and is developing her own creative practice.

Shirley Mead

Associate Trainer, Southern England

Dedicated to creating the best outcomes for children, Shirley Mead has over 30 years experience in early years education with a variety of roles including Reception class teacher, Deputy Head, Nursery owner, Learning Support team and Early Years Quality Advisor for West Sussex County Council, and most recently, Head of Pre-Prep. Throughout her career she has nurtured the potential of children, families and practitioners with a hands-on, supportive approach that has a proven track record. Shirley is an energetic, positive person who helps others aim high and develop professionally, to draw the best possible practice from all staff in a setting. Confident, relaxed practitioners help create confident, relaxed children and it is Shirley’s pleasure to support settings in their individual journeys.

Email:enquiries@mindstretchers.co.uk

Phone: +44 (0) 1764 650030

Janice Darkes-Sutcliffe

Janice Darkes-Sutcliffe

Associate Trainer, North East England

My name is Janice Darkes-Sutcliffe and I am currently working as an independent Early Years trainer and consultant. I am based in Liverpool and have had a broad and varied teaching experience for over 17 years in mainstream and SEN provision. I am passionate about working with the youngest children, believing that if we get it right in the early years then children truly can be given the best start for life! For the past 11 years my role was as a specialist EYFS advisory teacher for Liverpool City Council (School Improvement) working closely with early years practitioners in schools, nurseries and children’s centres. I was the strategic lead for the team of Area Sencos providing training, support and advice on all aspects of SEND provision. Most recently I was the Lead Officer for developing provision for two year olds in Liverpool and developed collaborative working approaches to ensure quality provision and practice for young children. After leaving the LA in September 2015, I have started working independently providing early years training and consultancy for Cheshire East Council and in the Autumn term had the privilege of doing some work with a group of nurseries in Dubai. I have also been working part time at Liverpool John Moores University and have recently become an associate consultant for KCA Training (Five to Thrive) and IEY (International Early Years).

In 2006 I completed my MA at Pen Green Research Base, which was a transformative learning experience for me, introducing me to the world of practitioner action research. I am currently undertaking a PhD as a practitioner researcher for the ‘BORN4LIFE’ project which is keeping me very busy!

Australia

Wendy Gorman

Wendy Gorman

Claire Warden Ltd

Licensed Trainer, Perth WA

Wendy has extensive experiences as an early year’s educator working in a variety of schools in WA and Victoria. As an early childhood classroom teacher Wendy was skilled in extending the literacy and numeracy opportunities within the children’s emergent projects. Her engaging program was enhanced by camps, excursions and adventures in the outdoors .

Wendy was fortunate as a young child to grow up on a rural property in the Perth foothills. Her childhood was spent damming creeks, creating cubbies and roaming the bush spaces at the end of the street.

Wendy’s current role as Coordinator of Early Childhood at the Association of Independent Schools, Western Australia sees her manage many innovative projects and engaging professional learning for early childhood educators. Wendy is available to deliver training in Western Australia.

Anthony Morris

Claire Warden Ltd

Associate Trainer, Melbourne

Anthony Morris is an Early Childhood Educator who has been teaching in inner city Melbourne since 2006. In 2015 Anthony completed the Claire Warden Nature Pedagogy Course, and presented alongside Claire at the Children Learning with Nature Conference in Santa Cruz, USA.

Anthony's passion for Early Childhood nature education was fostered during his own childhood family holiday adventures to the beach and bush. The Boy Scouts gave Anthony an awe inspiring respect of nature, and taught him how to play [safely] with knives and rope. Anthony uses the passion fostered in his childhood adventures, and the knowledge gained from his teaching studies, to take children in Early Childhood settings out into the natural/beyond spaces/environments that can be found in inner city Melbourne.

Anthony has a young family, whom spend much of their spare time in nature and the outdoors. He lives in Melbourne, Australia. Anthony acknowledges the Wurundjeri people, of the Kulin Nations, as the traditional custodians of the land on which he lives, learns, works, and plays.

Briony Brooks

Claire Warden Ltd

Associate Trainer, Adelaide

Briony has been teaching and Directing in various DECD kindergartens over the past 15 years. Her passion for children having opportunities to connect with the land and the natural environment has influenced the vision and values of each centre she has in, with children having opportunities to explore and grow in all areas of their development. Over the past few years she has been supporting various other centres in their development of their outdoor spaces into a place where children have opportunities to reconnect with nature. This support also extends to educators encouraging them to reflect on their own pedagogy, looking at the teaching and learning that is happening in the natural environment.

Rebecca Thompson

Claire Warden Ltd

Associate Trainer, Central Coast

With a wealth of experience that spans across 18 years in a variety of; early childhood, early intervention, primary school and adult learning environments, Rebecca prides herself with a long standing commitment in advocacy of the right for every child to access high quality care and education. This commitment saw Rebecca involved in many action research projects on the efficacy of quality care for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

More recently, Rebecca’s fabulous two-year-old son continues to inspire her work in assisting parents and services to understand the importance of free play and the child’s right to play. She found an automatic kinship with nature pedagogy where all of this is made accessible! She now talks with services to bring new light to children’s behaviour, assisting in re-thinking the way we support this through the use of natural spaces and mindful practices.

Natasha Livock

Claire Warden Ltd

Associate Trainer, Queensland

Natasha has been an engaged and active educator for 20 years. She was a Primary Teacher throughout Western Australia, with most of her experience being in multi age classrooms, rural and remote Indigenous settings and difficult to staff urban schools. She has had a diverse range of teaching experiences, including as an educator in rural Western Australia and London, during which she spent time voluntary time creating educational resources in a Nepalese orphanage.

Natasha was the Founding Director of 'Demurru - wind of the North', a small business developed to bridge the gap in knowledge and understanding of aspects of Indigenous art and culture for educators working within the Western Australian curriculum.

Natasha is currently the Director at Cawongla Playhouse Nature preschool: a community, not-for-profit preschool in Northern NSW. She is the chairperson of the Northern Rivers preschool Alliance which she has been for the last two years.

"We just want to say thank you for an amazing PD on Friday. We came away inspired and we are determined to implement this beautiful way of documenting into our service." -Feedback on Natasha's Floorbooks PD training, February 2017.

James MacDiarmid

Claire Warden Ltd

Associate Trainer, Wollongong

The allurement of nature is a powerful force in my world. I am conscientious of its importance, its intricacies, its beauty and continual energy for perfection. I am not removed but rather a part of the greater natural world. My name is James MacDiarmid and I am an adventurer, naturalist, Churchill Fellow finalist and educator.

From my time as a Canadian ski instructor my passion for education and the natural world has only become greater. As a content provider and adventurer much of my time is dedicated to sharing with audiences across the world the fascinations and teaching which the natural world provides. Whether it is speaking at international conferences, standing in front of the room of thirty-two 12 year olds, or sitting cross-legged on the floor with a group of 3, 4 or 5 years olds, becoming a ski instructor 15 years ago was only the beginning of my journey and the affinity I have to both teaching and being a part of the greater natural world.

I have presented at the 2nd UNICEF Child Friendly Asia Pacific Conference, Indonesia and had my work sampled in TEDx Mid-Atlantic, 2015, Washington. I was also a finalist for the Churchill Fellowship, 2015.

Carly Garner

Claire Warden Ltd

Associate Trainer, Brisbane

Carly Garner is an environmental advocate with 19 years experience in the non-government, community and education sectors. She worked for Oxfam Australia in their International Emergencies Department, contributing to the re-establishment of sustainable communities in East Timor, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands, and later managed the development and implementation of the Oxfam Australia Environmental Sustainability Plan, which directed and inspired the agency towards environmental sustainability in its operations, programs and advocacy. Upon starting a family, Carly shifted her attention from inspiring environmentally-oriented behaviour change in adults, to that of children. Carly is the founding director of the award winning Natureweavers Forest School. Based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Natureweavers have been working with children and their families in wildspace since 2010.

Carly holds qualifications in Psychophysiology, International Development, has a Permaculture Design Certificate and is a qualified yoga teacher with Satyananda Yoga Shala. She is currently working towards her Masters in Education with a focus on nature play in early childhood.

Helen Jones

Claire Warden Ltd

Licensed Training Consultant

Helen spent her childhood creating cubbies, playing in creeks with sticks and stones, camping and bushwalking which continues with her children, family and friends. Helen has worked and traveled in various environments, as an Educator in Early Childhood Centres, OSHC services, Kindergartens Nannying and Camp America. Over the years of studying and experiences she has developed the understanding of nature pedagogy and the rich benefits as both a child and as an adult.

Helen currently teaches Educators in the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and Diploma of School Aged Education and Care. As a Lecturer in children's services at TAFE SA, she embeds the importance of the connection to the natural environment and sustainability practices. Helen has a passion for children taking risks and highlighting the benefits for enhancing children's learning through play and connections with their world. Since completing the 6 Day Nature Pedagogy course in 2015 with Claire Warden, she has grown to develop many more experiences to support children and educators as researchers and continues to share her love of learning with nature.

Maria Bootle

Maria Bootle

Claire Warden Ltd

Licensed Training Consultant

Information coming soon!

Liane Clements

Liane Clements

Liane Clements is a Primary School Educator who has been teaching on the Mornington Peninsula (Victoria) for over 25 years. In 2015 Liane completed the Claire Warden Nature Pedagogy Course and co-presented at the SA NaturePlay and IANP conference in 2017.

Liane is a passionate staff member of Woodleigh School. At Woodleigh, they believe that great education is more than just an excellent academic preparation for the future. Great education builds resilience and resourcefulness - the ability to find a way, to struggle and achieve, this can be supported through experiential nature based education. Through Woodleigh's 'Discovery Days' the children are given the confidence to take on and conquer new challenges whilst exploring and learning in nature. Woodleigh produces 'Adventurous Minds'.

Liane's love for Primary School nature education began in 2012 when the children from Woodleigh's ECC visited her in Foundation for an orientation day. When asked what they were looking forward to doing in their first year at school they replied fishing, rock hopping and mud sliding. This had been influenced by their amazing outdoor experiences that they had whilst in Early Childhood Centre. As a result, Liane introduced 'Discovery Days' into the primary school. Since this time the program has grown and it is now a program run from Foundation - Year 2 every Wednesday rain, hail or shine.

Liane currently teaches Year 1 at Woodleigh.

Kate Marino

Kate Marino

Kate Marino is a Primary School Educator who has been teaching for over 14 years. In 2015, Kate completed the Claire Warden Nature Pedagogy Course and co-presented at the SA NaturePlay and IANP conference in 2017.

Kate was very excited to re-join the team at Woodleigh School in 2014, after previously teaching at Penbank Campus. At Woodleigh, they believe that great education is more than just an excellent academic preparation for the future. Great education builds resilience and resourcefulness - the ability to find a way, to struggle and achieve, this can be supported through experiential nature based education. Through Woodleigh's 'Discovery Days' the children are given the confidence to take on and conquer new challenges whilst exploring and learning in nature. Woodleigh produces 'Adventurous Minds'.

When Kate started at Woodleigh, she had no idea that she would be taking her class to The Creek once per week. Kate rose to the challenge and learnt so much for other staff members. After completing professional development about the benefits of learning outdoors, it reaffirmed the fabulous program known as 'Discovery Day' which runs from Foundation - Year 2 every Wednesday rain, hail or shine.

Kate currently teaches Foundation at Woodleigh.

USA & Canada

Andrea Welz - CANADA

Andrea Welz - CANADA

Claire Warden Ltd Licensed Training Consultant

As an educator and parent, Andrea has felt that connections to nature were an important part of human development and a way to foster an ecological consciousness. It was after a 2008 visit to a Waldkindergarten (forest kindergarten) in Germany that she began to focus more intently on early learning approaches that were nature-based. Since then she has visited a variety of programs in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Scotland and Germany.

To gain further insights she completed her Forest School and Nature Kindergarten training with Claire Warden Ltd. (subsequently becoming a Claire Warden trainer) and a MEd with a thesis researching the experiences of early childhood educators running a trial nature-based program. Attending international environmental education conferences, including participation in a Wild Pedagogy colloquium in 2015, has helped to expand her perspectives. She continues to seek out new opportunities to broaden her understanding about this exciting approach to early learning.

Andrea has worked in a variety of educational settings and is currently part of the Sault College Early Childhood Education program faculty team.

Rachel Larimore - USA

Claire Warden Ltd

Licensed Trainer

Rachel Larimore is private consultant and doctoral student in teacher education at Michigan State University focusing on nature-based early childhood education. For 15 years she was the Director of Education at Chippewa Nature Center in Midland, Michigan where her responsibilities included administration of all youth-related programming including the Center’s nature-based preschool—a program that now served 140 children annually at her departure. To help other centers create a similar program Rachel authored “Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool” published by the National Association for Interpretation. She received a bachelor’s in natural resource recreation and tourism and a master’s in park and recreation administration. She currently co-chairs Natural Start Alliance’s Council for Nature and Forest Preschools. Learn more about Rachel and her work at www.rachel-larimore.com.